Wind-shield cleaner



Aug. 6, 1929. w. c. MARTIN WINDSHIELD CLEANER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1927 'ma y Aug. 6, 1929. w. c. MARTIN A WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed June 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAI (l.A IABTIN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 :omer n. LEE, or eax rmx, ILLINOIS. wnm-snmnn cnmmin.

Application lled June 6,

This invention relates particularly. to windshield cleaners of the type employing a wiper adapted to travel back and forth longitudinally across the windshield so as to give clear vision throughout the length` of the windshield.

The primary object is to provide a simple, electrically o erated device of this character which `can ge 1o 00St- 'lhe invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in whichf Fig. 1 is a broken elevational view, partly in section, of a windshield cleaner embodying the invention, the view being from the rear of the device; Fig. 2, a transverse sec! tion takenas indicated atline 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a broken transverse section taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a broken sectional vview ofan automobile body, the improved device being applied to the Wind-. shield thereof; Fig. 5, a roken longitudinal sectional' view on an enlarged scale, illustrating the connection between the actuating screw-shaft and the reciprocating slide which carries the wiper; Fig. 6, a view of an inner slotted sleeve which houses the screw and serves to prevent vibration thereof; and Fig. 7, a perspective view of one of the bracket-rings emplo ed for attaching the elongated housing o the device to the windshield frame.

In the illustration given, A desi 'ates an 35 automobile body having a top and a windshield A2; and B designates the improved windshield cleaner.

The device B comprises, in the formillustrated, a motor-casing l B; an elongated housing B2 connected at onel end with the motor-casing and equipped at the other end with a removable cap B3; a pair of ringbrackets B", B* which serve as a means for attaching the elongated housing to the windshield frame; a screw-shaft B5 journalled in bearings B, B" with which the elongated housing is fitted internally; an internal ide-tube B7 having its ends mounted in lnternal rings B2 secured within the housing B2; a slide B9 adapted to be reciprocated by the screw-shaft; a depending arm B10 fixedly secured to the slide and equipped with a wiping element B11; and an electric motor B12 housed in the casing B and prolmanufactured at moderate.

'with reversing -grooves 82.

1927. Serial No. 196,789.

vided withl an mutare shaft B1' which is in alignment with and coupled to the screwshaft B.

rlhe automobile bodyA may be of any deslred construction, as is true, also, ofthe windshield. In the illustration, the windshleld A2 comprises a glass 1 having its uper margin secured in across-bar 2 located neath ,the top A.

The motor-casing B is a hollow bodv preferably formed with integral walls on all sides, excepting one end, where a removable end-cap 3 is employed to close the casing, thls cap being secured to the body of the casing by screws 3".

The other end of the casing preferably is provided with a tubular bo 4 upon which 1s pivoted the ad'acent end of the elongated tubular housing 2. The housing B2 is provided at its lower side with a longitudlnal slot 5in which works a depending lug' 6 with which the slide B is' equipped. The arm B10 is fixedly secured to the lug 6 by means of rivets 7 The elongated housing Bz may be formed 'of sheet-metal curved into tubular form; or it may consistof a slotted similar tubing. Preferably it is of brass.

The screw-shaft B5 is provided with right and -left thread-grooves 8 .which cross each other, and which are united at their ends Thebearings TBu for the screw-shaft are preferably anti-friction bearings.

. The rings Bla are fitted within the housing B2 between the bearings B; and the ends of the tubular guideBI are supported in said rings. The tubular guide B7 preferably consists of a heavy gauge copper tube which is cut away at its upper side, or provided at its upper side with an elongated slot 9.

The slide B" is in the form of a castmetal member which fits freely Within the tubular housing B2 and which is rovided with a central bore 10 throu h willich the inner tubular guide BT exten s freely. In other words, the slide B2 is adapted tobe reciprocated on the tubular guide B". In the upper portion of the slide B9 is a swiveled member 11 having a depending screw-engaging blade 11 which depends through the slot 9 of the inner guide tube and engages the thread-groove of the screw-shaft. Itwill be understood that the thread-ergaging i e to member reverses so as to cause the l The bracket-rings B4 taching llugs 14 (one shown),

move back and forth, like a nut, notwith standing the fact that the screw-shaft rotates ber 2 of the automobile body. If desired,

the motorcasing B is equipped with atsecured to the member 2`by means of a screw 141. Ordinarily, however, it is sufficient to support the housing B2 and support the motor-casing through the medium of the housing.

The armature-shaft B13 is shown jourl nalled in the bearings with which the motorcasing is provided. One end of the armature-shaft projects through the bearing af-l forded by the lug 4 and is equipped with a rigidly'secured tubuiar coupling ymember 15 which is provided with a slot 151 engaged by a transverse pin 16 carriedl by the adjacent end of the screw-shaft B5.' Thus, the armature-of the motor is direct-coupled to the screw-shaft.` It will be understood that thespiral grooves 'v8 of the screw-shaft are given the requisite pitch to cause the wiper to be reciprocated, or carried back and forth across the full length of the windshield, at the desired speed.

The motor is driven by electricity' from a suitable source, such as a battery 17, the circuit being equipped with a switch 18 aplied to the cross-bar A1 within convenient reach 'of the driver. 1

The wiper-element B11 is shown connected with the wiper-arm B1o by means of a pivota'l connection 19. It will be understood that the wiper-arm is guided in its movements by the slot 5, and that the wiper-arm ordinarily is made sufficiently resilient to hold the wiper-element properly against the lass.

g The inner tubular guide-member f B", which preferably is of copper, serves to prevent undue vibration of the screw-shaft, and also provided, preferably, an additional bearing for the slide B9. Thus, there is provided a staunch and durable construction, free from vibration and noise.

From the description given, it will be understood that current may be admitted through the switch 18 to the electric motor which will operate to turn the screwshaft B5 continuously in one direction. The screw-shaft will, by reason of its engageshield longitudinally thereof.

The improved device is of simple construction, and is so designed as to lenable the parts to be cheaply manufactured and assembled at very small cost. The device is well adapted to its purpose, and may be caused to operate by simply turning on the current through the medium of the switch 18. f l l In practice, the-motor will ordinarily be located at the lateral edge of the windshi which is nearest the driver.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended yclaims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What. I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character setl forth, comprising an elongated housing provided at its lower side with a slot, an inner guidetube disposed centrally within said housto the other, thus movingthel wiper B11 ack and forth across the wind-l eo j eld af5 ing and having its ends supported in said.-V

housing, said guide-tube beingV provided at its upper side with a longitudinal slot, a

tubular slide through which said guide-tube extends freely, a reversible thread-engaging member swivelled in theupper portion of said slide and working through the slot with which said guide-tube is provided, a screwshaft extending freely through said guidetube and provided with intersecting right and left thread-grooves, a motor-casing secured t`o one end of said housing, and an electric motor journalled in said casing and direct-coupled to said screw-shaft.

2. A device of he character set forth, @comprising an elongated tubular housing fitted at one end with a closure, said ho'using being provided at its lower side with a' guide-slot, an inner guide-tube supported at its ends in centered position within said tubular housing and provided at its upper side with a slot, a slide on said guide-tube and within said tubular housing, a reversible thread-engaging member mounted in said slide and working through the slot in said guide-tube, a screw-shaft journalled in said housing and extending freely throufrhl said guideitube and provided with interseting right and left thread-grooves.

WILLIAM C. MARTIN. 

